Fruit for Thought: the Intersection of Education, Culture, and Performance

Before my current writing life, there was  The Hilltop ,  Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form. From The Hilltop Archives Originally published in   The Hilltop , Howard University — September 20th, 2004 __________________________________________________________________________________ Profile: One-on-One with Bison Wide Receiver Kevin Simmonds It's not difficult to distinguish Kevin Simmonds from the rest of the student body at Howard. The senior COBIS major from Tallahassee, Fla. seems to be an average student, wearing shorts and a t-shirt to stay cool during D.C.'s seasonably warm September. With a 28-inch gold link and two diamond earrings, he's just the typical Howard male, right?    Wrong…   Simmonds is the leading wide receiver on the Bison football team. Rocking ...

Before my current writing life, there was  The Hilltop ,  Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form. From The Hilltop Archives Originally published in   The Hilltop , Howard University — September 17th, 2004 __________________________________________________________________________________ It’s Bigger Than… It doesn't matter if you lay the smackdown, rock it or die trying, as long as we as black folks get up, get out and vote. Dang, I sound like a politician. Am I telling you something you don't already know? Thirty eight million people between the ages of 18-36 not voting in 2000  is  a direct cause for the predicament the U.S. is in. This isn't nuclear physics, well with the ballot situation in Florida for the past four years it might as well be. They're trying to make it harde...

Before my current writing life, there was  The Hilltop ,  Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form. From The Hilltop Archives Originally published in   The Hilltop , Howard University — September 10th, 2004 __________________________________________________________________________________ Hurricane "Hurricane, but you can call me slurricane   slurricane, strong enough to start a engine mayne..."   It's an E40 classic. If you don't know you're slipping because I am taking it back. I am talking 'bout going back to the 'nine-teen-ninety fin;' a time when hurricane was a drink that'll have you sluttering and what not. It had no regard for size or shape because when you least expected it, you're on your face. You dig what I say.   But that was nearly a decade ago, i...

Before my current writing life, there was  The Hilltop ,  Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form. From The Hilltop Archives Originally published in   The Hilltop , Howard University — September 7th, 2004 __________________________________________________________________________________ Howard Bison Goes to Detroit for Classic "Gilmore, Gilmore, Gilmore" was the Bison chant as they came out of the tunnel of Ford Field. This wasn't pre-game or after halftime, this was at 2:45 p.m. on Friday's practice before the second annual Detroit Football Classic on Saturday.    "I've been talking mess all summer about Detroit calling me and they feed off of it," said Defensive Coordinator and Linebacker Coach Keith Gilmore.   Coach Gilmore, born and raised in Detroit, expressed his ...

Before my current writing life, there was  The Hilltop ,  Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form. From The Hilltop Archives Originally published in   The Hilltop , Howard University — September 7th, 2004 __________________________________________________________________________________ The Detroit Football Classic: Strictly Black Business Ask any fan, when it comes down to game time, it's all about the paraphernalia. Whether it's those who collect as a piece of memorabilia or those who are representing their team, they have to have the right gear.   There was no Nike, no Reebok and no Adidas; at the Detroit Football Classic with two historically black schools, it was all about the black-owned business.    "We're the official apparel and promotions supplier for the DFC," s...

Before my current writing life, there was  The Hilltop ,  Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form. From The Hilltop Archives Originally published in   The Hilltop , Howard University — September 7th, 2004 __________________________________________________________________________________ The DFC: It’s On The last time the Bison were in the Midwest was in August of 2001 as the played the Jackson State Tigers in the Windy City Classic at Soldier Field. In the year following, Chicago wasn't able to host the classic because of renovations to Solider Field. Last year, it was Detroit who took the reigns of the Midwest classic and started the inaugural Detroit Football Classic. With the idea from Lions defensive end Robert Porcher and the help of businessmen Frank Taylor and John Graves, the kic...